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R..T. KANSKI. I SIGNAL SETTING DEVICE.

No. 557,275. Patented Mar. 31, 1896.

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SIGNAL SETTING DEVICE. I

Patented Mar. 31, 1896.

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ROMAN T. KANSKI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIG N AL-SETTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 557,275, dated March 31, 1896.

Application filed December 24, 1895. Serial No. 573,213. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROMAN T. KANSKLa citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Setting Devices; and I do declare the following to be a.

full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to signal-setting apparatus, and has for its object the production of a simple, durable, and easily-operated device comprising a minimum of working elements, which shall insure, by means of their special and original construction, the completion of the movement of the exhibited signal from one of its regular positions to another regular position, and prevent partial and incomplete movements of the various cooperating parts by which the signal would be indistinctly or improperly shown, with possibly destructive or tragic consequences.

Upon railways running many trains daily in accordance with an established block system the demand is imperative for a reliable signalsetting device that can be relied upon to perform the full duty for which it is designed, continuously and under all atmospheric conditions.

My invention is an improvement upon such devices in general service at present, and beyond the fact that it is constructed of the simplest and fewest elements a prominent advantage results from inclosing the entire operating mechanism in a storm-proof casing.

My invention consists, essentially, of an arm pivoted at one end and provided with a toothed portion at its free end, which acts also as an overbalancing-weight, cam-ended levers having attached to them suitable wire or rod pulls, and gearing arranged to mesh with the toothed portion of the arm and to rotate a signal plate or light of common construction, together with minor mechanical details each hereinbelow fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 represents an exterior front view; Fig. 2, a view from the same point as in the first figure, the outer casing having been removed,

enabling the mechanism constituting the invention to be seen; Fig. 3, an end view taken from the left of the first figure; Fig. 4, a plan view from above; Fig. 5, a rear view of the signal-plate, showing the supporting-spindle, the operating-shaft, the curved arm, and the guides in engagement with the pin carried by the arm; Fig. 6, an end view of the signalplate, spindle, and operating-shaft and side View of the curved arm and pin-guides, the dotted lines indicating the path through which the plate and arm may be moved; and Fig. 7, a front view of the cam-ended levers, together with a portion of the pivoted arm and supporting-plate, the full lines showing one regular position and the broken line indicating the second regular position of the parts mentioned.

Considering Fig.1, numeral 1 represents the upright signal-post; 2, the sheet-metal front of the casing provided to defend the mechanism from the weather. The sheet 2 may be riveted or otherwise fastened to the castplate 3, which forms the back of the casing and the immediate support for the internal parts. The plate 3 has a wide flange along its upper edge, which forms the top of the signal box or casing. Numeral 4 represents the signal plate or target, of any form or color; 5, the spindle arranged and constructed for its support; and 6 designates the lantern of any common variety.

Considering Fig. 2 also, '7 marks the right lever joined to plate 3 by a pivot 8 and possessing a cam-shaped end 9. 10 marks the left lever joined to plate 3 by a pivot 11 and possessing a cam-shaped end 12. 13 represents the lower bolt by which the plate 3 is fixed upon the post, aided by bolts 14 and 15. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) 16 represents the geared arm forming the central working element of my invention. The arm is joined to the plate 3 by the pivot 17 and has attached across its free end a rack or section of gearing 18. (Best shown in Fig. 2.) The toothed portion 18 may be short and practically straight or formed upon an arc of a circle and lengthened, its construction and extent beiug governed by the movement desired in changing the signals and the relative proportions of the intervening machinery.

19 designates an upright shaft, upon which is fixed the double bevel gearwheel 20, which possesses an upper series of teeth 21 and a lower series of teeth 22. Within the scope of myinvention the upper and lower series of teeth may or may not be identical, and it is obvious that two separate gear- Wheels can be substituted for the compound wheel shown in Fig. 2.

Attached to the flange of plate 3 is the disk or collar 23, forming a bearing for the upper extremity of shaft 19, and a similar disk or collar 24., fixed upon the middle of a cross piece 25, supplies a bearing for the lower journal of the shaft, the actual end of which abuts on and is supported by the cross-piece 25, which, in its turn, is held upon brackets 26 and 27 projecting from plate 3. Fixed upon the shaft 19, usually near its upper bearing, is the crank 28, and a, rod 29 is joined to the crank by the pin or pivot 30. Rod 29 at its other end is pivotally attached to a crank 31 by a pin 32, the crank being fixed upon an upright spindle 33, having its upper end attached to a plate or socket or directly to the bottom of a lantern 6. Located upon the flange of the plate 3 is the disk or collar 34, which, as well as the flange, is bored to fit the, spindle 33, and the collar may be fixed upon the spindle and serve to support it in case the necessity should arise for raising the lantern to a greater height above the casing by elongating the spindle.

Another and equally useful construction consists in fixing the collar st to the flange of plate 3 as an additional bearing for the spindle 33, and under these conditions the bottom of the lantern, or the plate capping the end of the spindle upon which the lantern rests, comes in contact with the upper surface of the collar, thereby supporting the weight of the spindle.

35 represents a brace or frame attached to the plate 3 and used to give rigidity to the casing.

36 designates a bevel gear-wheel adapted to mesh with the upper teeth 21 of the double wheel 20 and fixed at the end of a horizontal shaft 37, the shaft being supported by the middle brace 38, of similar general form to thebrace 35, but having a centrally-located orifice providing a suitable bearing for the shaft 37. A third brace 39, placed 011 the left of the casing and similar to the middle brace, affords a second bearing for the horizontal shaft, which is thus sufliciently supported.

40 represents a hollow cylinder suitably attached to. the rear side of the signal-plate 4 and constructed internally to fit the spindle 5 movably.

41 represents an arm, usually curved, (see Figs. 3 and (3,) attached byone extremity to the outer end of the horizontal shaft 37, by which it is actuated. The unattached end of the ,curved arm is rounded, in order that it may slide readily over the surface of the sig nal-plate during the operation to be described hereinafter. Near the rounded end a pin 42 is fixed through the arm and projects from each side thereof, and retaining-guides 43 and 4.4 are attached to the rear of signal-plate 4 in such manner as to engage the pin. (See Figs. 3, 5, and 6.) Fig. 3 contains a representation of one end of the casing covered by the sheet 45, having a longitudinal slot 46 of sufficient extent to allow full play to the lever 10, shown as projecting through it. To adequately inclose the ends and lower curved area included between the cast plate 3 and the front sheet 2, a strip of metal may be employed, which, when provided with a narrow flange, can be riveted or bolted to back and front sheets, or a. suitably curved and slotted casting may be constructed and attached by screws, according to common methods.

47 and 48 mark wires or rods pivotally con.- nected with the levers, and these pulls may be worked by hand or by any automatic contrivance adapted for the purpose.

I do not limit myself to the actual form and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings making a part of this description, but may conclude to vary the construction within the purview of my invention. U

Starting with the parts in the positions presented in Fig. 2, the operation may be assumed to commence upon drawing down the pull 47 and thereby depressing lever 7. If this action is quickly taken,the geared end of the arm 16 acquires for the moment considerable velocity and energy... In addition to meshing with the lower series of teeth 22 and driving the double bevel gear-wheel 20 through that engagement it is intended that the toothed portion 18 should possess some excess of weight, in. order that it may pass beyond the perpendicular. and take advantage of the attraction of gravitation to insure the completion of its proper movement. lVhile the best operative position for my invention is that holding the shaft 37 exactly perpendicular, excellent service may be rendered by the apparatus in other situations, care being taken that the vibrative arm 16 shall be suitably pivoted and guided. Then the gears wheel 20 is rotated, simple crank-and-rod connections turn the lanternspindle, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.. Coincidently, the rotation of gear-wheel 36 and shaft 37 raise the rounded end of arm 41,.which lifts the contiguous half of the signal-plate, along which the round end andpin 4C2 retreat toward the spindle 5. (See Fig. 6.) It will be observed that the guides 43 and 44: permit the movement of the pin, as described, and cooperate with the pin and arm to return the plate into its first position by an opposite journey of the parts involved.

Referring to Fig. 7 ,the two regular positions of the levers and geared arm are shown in full and dotted lines, and it will be observed that the maximum effort due to the levers is exerted at the beginning of the operation. The cam ends of the levers are continuously in contact with the geared arm 16, and as the lever upon one side is drawn downward the consequent movement of the arm acting through their mutual point of contact raises the idle-lever into a position precisely analogous to that from which the working lever started. The return of the parts to their original positions is accomplished by a series of movements similar in all respects to those just explained, calling for no additional description.

Having thus sufficiently described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. A signal-settin g device comprisinga supporting-plate, an arm provided with a geared portion and having one end adapted for pivotal connection with said plate, levers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends and attachments for operating said levers, substantially as described.

2. A signal-setting device comprising a supporting-plate, an arm provided with a geared portion and having one end adapted for pivotal connection with said plate, levers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends, attachments for operating said levers, a shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said shaft adjacent to said arm, gearing adapted for engagement with the geared portion of said arm and to be fixed upon said shaft, a spindle, bearings attached to or integral with said plate whereby said spindle may be revolubly supported parallel to the said shaft, and pivotal crank-and-rod connections between said shaft and spindle, substantially as described.

3. A signal-setting device comprising a supporting-plate, an arm provided with a geared portion and having one end adapted for pivotal connection with said plate, levers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends, attachments'for operating said levers, a primary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said shaft adjacent to said arm, gearing adapted for engagement with the geared portion of said arm and to be fixed upon said shaft, an auxiliary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said auxiliary shaft at right angles with the primary shaft, gearing adapted for attachment to said auxiliary shaft and for engagement with the gearing of the primary shaft, a signal-plate, means for revolubly supporting said signal-plate, mechanism attached to said auxiliary shaft whereby said signal-plate may be positively operated, substantially as described.

4. A signal-setting device comprising a supporting-plate, an arm provided with a geared portion and having one end adapted for pivotal connection with said plate, levers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends, attachments for operating said levers, a primary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said shaft adjacent to said arm, gearing adapted for engagement with the geared portion of said arm and to be fixed upon said shaft, an auxiliary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said auxiliary shaft at right angles with the primary shaft, gearing adapted for attachment to said auxiliary shaft and for engagement with the gearing of the primary shaft, a signal-plate, an arm adapted to be fixed upon said auxiliary shaft, the said arm having a pin fixed through it, guides constructed for attachment to the said signalplate and for engagement with said pin, and means for revolubly supporting said signalplate, substantially as described.

5. A signal-setting device comprisingasupporting-plate, an arm provided with a geared portion and having one end adapted for piv otal connection with said plate,levers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends, attachments for operating said levers, a primary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said shaft adjacent to said arm, gearing adapted for engagement with the geared portion of said arm and to be fixed upon said shaft, a spindle, bearings attached to or integral with the said plate whereby said spindle may be revolubly supported parallel to the said shaft, pivotal rod-and-crank connections between said shaft and spindle, an auxiliary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said auxiliary shaft at right angles with the primary shaft, gearing adapted for attachment to said auxiliary shaft and for engagement with the gearing of the primary shaft, a signahplate, an arm adapted to be fixed upon said auxiliary shaft, the said arm having a pin fixed through it, guides constructed for attachment to the saidsignal-plate and for engagement with the said pin, and means for revolubly supporting the said signalplate, substantially as described.

I 6. A signal-setting device comprisinga supporting-plate, an arm provided witha geared portion and having one end adapted for pivotal connection with said plate,ilevers adapted for pivotal connection with said plate and having cam ends, attachments for operating said levers, a primary shaft, means capable of being attached to said plate and constructed to afford bearings for said shaft adjacent to said arm, gearing adapted for engagement with the geared portion of said arm and to be fixed upon said shaft, a spindle, bearings attached to or integral with the said plate whereby said spindle may be revolubly supported parallel to the said shaft,

revolubly supporting the said signal-plate,

and a suitable casing constructed for attach- I 5 ment to said supporting-plate and provided with slots or recesses through which the said levers may project and operate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiic my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

ROMAN 'l. KANSKI. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. W. RANDALL, 'WM. H. TAYLOR. 

